Spencer Ritenour: Slope Photographer Extraordinaire

Ever since Spencer Ritenour moved to Park Slope seven months ago, he’s been obsessed. When the Fort Wayne, Indiana native isn’t working as an optometrist at Park Slope Eye over on Union Street, you’ll find him behind his camera, documenting every aspect of the neighborhood. Ritenour snaps the Slope and blogs about it both on his photography blog, Park Slope Lens, and his photo column over at Effed in Park Slope.

You said that you’ve always loved Brooklyn, even as a kid in Indiana. What is it about the Borough of Kings that you love?

I’ve been very passionate about Brooklyn my whole life. I love cities, and how cities are designed. To me, Brooklyn is the pinnacle of urban design. I think of Park Slope as very similar to the West Village in the 60s, in terms of structure.

I really get excited about how structure informs the community. Here in Park Slope, how friendly people are, how they embrace local businesses, a lot of that is due to the structure of the neighborhood.

What are some of your favorite things to do in the neighborhood?

I go to Post Mark Café every morning. The atmosphere is amazing and I don’t even have to order – that is gold to me. I spend a lot of time at the Tea Lounge. And I take pictures and I read.

I also have this secret spot in the park. I have a hammock that I like to hang near the lake.

What about some of your favorite places to eat out?

I love Scottaditto and Wantana Siam – that place changed my life. It’s amazing how good it is. And I love Dao Palate, I always bring thousands of menus back to the office so I can get everyone else hooked on it. I don’t cook at all – not even something as simple as a bagel – so I eat out for every meal.

So why did you become an eye doctor?

This is cliché, but it really is because I get to help people. I take that as my personal calling. At Park Slope Eye we have this really innovative communication system with our patients – my patients E-mail me all year long, I don’t just hear from them when they come in for a visit.

Your photography is great! Have you ever worked in photography?

I have no aspirations or pretentions that my stuff is high art. The most I’ve gotten paid for a picture is a fine meal. But I love to be able to give someone something beautiful.

How did you get into photography in the first place?

Six years ago I got my first camera, and I wanted to be able to take good pictures. So I studied, I read books, and it just spiraled out from there. I shoot constantly. 

Why did you decide to start your photo blog, Park Slope Lens?

I wanted people to see their neighborhood with new eyes. I took a photo of a red wall with some bushes the other day and a woman E-mailed me and said, “I’ve never seen the beauty there before.” That’s exactly what I wanted.